The city's Licensing and Standards Committee explained in a report recommending the idea late last year that these unregulated, so-called "ghost hotels" are having negative impacts on housing affordability and availability.

The rules, which should have come into effect this summer, would have required anyone renting out a short-term space — which would have to be a full home that they live in — to register with the city for an annual fee of $50.

It would also restrict the amount of time they could rent their spaces out to 180 nights.

That's not going to happen, however — at least not for some time, thanks to the postponement of an appeal tribunal contesting the city's vote.

Toronto's Local Planning Appeal Tribunal was scheduled for two days last week, according to The Star, but when it was learned that this situation would take five days to resolve, the tribunal was rescheduled "for the next date when a hearing room, the adjudicators and all parties involved were available."

They'll be meeting again to discuss the manner on Aug. 26, 2019 — nearly an entire year away.

Then, the tribunal could then take up to eight weeks to release its decision while long-term rental units dwindle in the shadow of more lucrative Airbnb-type situations.